And love as well as pride required its speedy close. Marian was resting
on his arm--he felt the clasp of her dear hand--he saw her living
face--the angel brow--the clear eyes--the rich auburn tresses, rippling
around the blooming cheek--he heard her dulcet tones--yet--it seemed
too like a dream!--he needed to realize this happiness.
"Friends," he said, "I thank you for the interest you show in us. For
those whose faith in me remained unshaken in my darkest hour, I find no
words good enough to express what I shall ever feel. But you must all
know how exhausting this day has been, and how needful repose is"--his
eyes here fell fondly and proudly upon Marian--"to this lady on my arm.
After to-morrow we shall be happy to see any of our friends at
Dell-Delight." And bowing slightly from right to left, he led his Marian
through the opening crowd.
CHAPTER XXXVII.
REUNION.
Who shall follow them, or intrude on the sacredness of their
reconciliation, or relate with what broken tones, and frequent stops and
tears and smiles, and clinging embraces, their mutual explanations were
made?
At last Marian, raising her head from his shoulder, said:
"But I come to you a bankrupt, dear Thurston! I have inherited and
expended a large fortune since we parted--and now I am more than
penniless, for I stand responsible for large sums of money owed by my
'Orphans Home' and 'Emigrants Help'--money that I had intended to raise
by subscription.
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